Titans Drop One-Goal Battle to Golden Bears

DETROIT (4/10/2014) -- It was a blustery day, and sophomore co-captain Kylie Birney had four goals for University of Detroit Mercy but Detroit fell 11-10 to the California Golden Bears of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation on Thursday afternoon at Titan Field.

The Golden Bears (3-8) took the lead with 4:04 to play in regulation and tried to run out the rest of the clock. The Titans (1-11) continued to apply pressure looking for another chance to get the ball but it was not until a late foul that the Titans were able to get the ball back. The distance was too far for Detroit and the time expired as the Golden Bears held on for the 11-10 victory.

"Overall I thought our offense was more productive and we were creating more opportunities and being aggressive," said UDM women's lacrosse head coach Laura Maness. "Defensively, we played better and we had the hustle plays. I think we need to tweak a few things to keep opposing teams from scoring easy goals but if we can correct those, I think we can play well heading into our next few games and into the tournament."

Birney had four goals to lead the Titans while junior Tessa Keuler and senior Erin Campbell each had two. Junior Annie Mendoza and sophomore Michaela Schwartz each had one goal apiece. Keuler added a helper on Campbell's last goal that came late with 5:48 to play in regulation.

Junior Titan goalkeeper Lexie McCormick made 11 saves in the cage and helped keep Detroit in the game making timely save after timely save.

McCormick also had a game-high six ground balls and junior Amanda Guthrie had five. Sophomore Morgan Miller and Campbell each added two ground balls while Guthrie had a career-high four caused turnovers. Schwartz and junior Morgan Lead each had three caused turnovers and Mendoza had four draw controls.

California started with two quick tallies before Birney notched her first goal of the game and 16th of the year with 24:45 left on the clock.

UC went up by two goals before Birney's second and a tally from Mendoza tied the game, 3-3, with 18:06 left in the first.

It was the Golden Bears with two strikes that followed before the Titans again answered to tie the game. Schwartz took advantage of a California yellow card and Keuler added her 10th goal of the year with 4:30 left in the half and the score all tied up, 5-5.

Both teams then traded goals as Birney scored her third of the game and the teams headed into halftime tied, 6-6.

California opened the second half with a goal but Campbell's 14th of the year made it a tie game once again as the Titans refused to go quietly.

The Golden Bears took a 9-7 lead but Keuler and Birney once again came back for Detroit and with 11:41 in regulation time, the game was still yet to be decided and the score tied, 9-9.

A 10th goal from California came first but Campbell's 99th point of her career made it a 10-10 game with 5:48 left on the clock. UC was then able to take the lead and hold on with 4:04 to play.

California had 19 turnovers to just 13 for Detroit and the Golden Bears had a slight 21-18 edge in shots on goal while the Titans finished with a 19-14 advantage in ground balls.

Detroit will head to Washington D.C. for an Atlantic Sun contest at Howard this Sunday that will start at 1:00 p.m. ET.